Linear motion mechanism and motion amplifying device therefor

ABSTRACT

A linear motion mechanism is disclosed consisting of an output member comprising a slide block mounted for sliding linear movement on a slide frame, which slide frame is in turn detachably secured to a vertical drive assembly including a mounting frame having a vertically extending mounting surface formed thereon. The slide block is drivingly connected to a motion amplifying mechanism carried on the mounting frame including an input push link on which is rotatably mounted a rotary drive element engaged with a drive chain fixed at one end and connected at the other end to the slide block so that the motion of the slide block is an amplification of the motion of the push link in direction away from the chain ends. The push link is translated by a rotary cam and pivoted lever pinned to one end of the push link. The slide block and slide frame are adapted for use separately from the mounting frame and motion amplification mechanism by mounting it on a horizontal surface and directly engaging the slide block with a rotary cam.

United States Patent [191 Tuss [ LINEAR MOTION MECHANISM AND MOTION AMPLIFYING DEVICE THEREFOR John J. Tuss, Englewood, Ohio 73 Assignee: The Bendix Corporation, Southfield,

Mich.

[75] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerBenjamin W. Wyche Assistant ExaminerWesley S. Ratliff, Jr. Attorney-John R. Benefiel et al.

[451 Dec. 25, 1973 [5 7] ABSTRACT A linear motion mechanism is disclosed consisting of an output member comprising a slide block mounted for sliding linear movement on a slide frame, which slide frame is in turn detachably secured to a vertical drive assembly including a mounting frame having a vertically extending mounting surface formed thereon. The slide block is drivingly connected to a motion amplifying mechanism carried on the mounting frame including an input push link on which is rotatably mounted a rotary drive element engaged with a drive chain fixed at one end and connected at the other end to the slide block so that the motion of the slide block is an amplification of the motion of the push link in direction away from the chain ends. The push link is translated by a rotary cam and pivoted lever pinned to one end of the push link. The slide block and slide frame are adapted for use separately from the mounting frame and motion amplification mechanism by mounting it on a horizontalsurface and directly engaging the slide block with a rotary cam.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED M825 I975 SHEEI 1 0f 3 FIG. I

PATENTEU B15825 I975 sumznr FIGZ FIGS

PATENTEUDEMS 1m 3.780.595

SHEEI 3 0f 3 LINEAR MOTION MECHANISMAND MOTION AMPLIFYING DEVICE THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention concerns linear motion mechanisms.

2. Description of the Prior Art In producing gaging systems of the automatic and semiautomatic types, it has been customary to design and fabricate each installation on an individual basis since design requirements for these systems were considered to be too diverse for standardized manufacture. This approach has extended to the various orienting, locating and gaging operations performed.

This practice inherently involves high costs and extended delivery time scales, and it has been recognized that standardization of components of these systems could provide a modular type construction in which systems are assembled from off-the-shelf components.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a linear motion mechanism which is suitable for such standardized manufacture due to flexibility in its applicaiton.

A further object is to provide a motion amplification device incorporated in this mechanism which is readily assembled from low cost commercially available components, and which contributes to the flexibility of application of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects which will become apparent upon a reading of the following specification and claims are accomplished by a linear motion mechanism consisting of an output member comprising a slide block mounted for sliding linear movement on a slide frame, which slider frame is in turn detachably secured to a vertical drive assembly including a mounting frame on a vertically extending mounting surface formed thereon. The slide block is drivingly connected to a motion amplifying mechanism carried on the mounting frame including an input push link on which is rotatably mounted a rotary drive element engaged with a drive chain fixed at one end and connected at the other end to the slide block so that the motion of the slide block is an amplification of the motion of the push link in direction away from the chain ends. The push link is translated by a rotary cam and pivoted lever pinned to one end of the push link. The slide block and slide frame are adapted for use separately from the mounting frame and motion amplification mechanism by mounting it on a horizontal surface and directly engaging the slide block with a rotary cam.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the linear motion mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the linear motion mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plane view of the linear motion mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plane view of the detachable slide block assembly portion of the linear motion mechanism in its separate mode of use.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the slide block assembly shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the slide block assembly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following detailed description certain specific terminology will be utilized for the sake of clarity and a specific embodiment will be described in order to provide a complete understanding of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited and may be practiced in a variety of forms and embodiments.

Referring to the drawings, the linear motion mechanism 10 is shown (FIG. 1 which includes a slide block assembly 12 and a vertical drive assembly 14.

In use, the slide block assembly 12 may be used in conjunction with the vertical drive assembly 14 in order to obtain a vertical linear motion as pictured in FIG. 1 or by itself in order to obtain horizontal linear motion (as shown in FIGS. 4-6). While the complete linear motion mechanism 10 will be first described in reference to FIGS. 1-3, reference will also be made to FIGS. 4-6 in describing certain details of the slide block assembly 12 since these details are better seen in those figures.

The slide block assembly 12 includes a slide block 16 (FIGS. 1, 4-6) which is slidably mounted for constrained linear motion on a slide frame 18 by means of four slide rod 20, 22, 24, and 26 fixed at either end in end portions 28 and 30. Slide rods 24 and 26 primarily perform this function and pass through bores formed through the length of the lower portion of the slide block 16, with wiper seals 32 provided protecting slide bearings 34 included for this purpose.

Slide bars 20 and 22 are provided primarily to mount a pair of compression springs 36 and 38 which engage the end portion 28 of the slide frame at one end, and ears 40 and 42 formed on the slide block 16 at the other end, and accordingly slide bars 20 and 22 pass through openings in ears 40 and 42.

Compression springs 36 and 38 serve to provide a bias force urging the slide block 16 in a downward direction as viewed in FIG. 1 and to the right as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5.

An adjustable stop arrangement is provided by a threaded adjustable stop rod 44 threaded into a web 46 formed by opening 48 in slide block 16 and also fitted into a bore 50 formed in web 52 formed by a clearance recess 54 formed in slide block 16. A locking nut 56 is provided to secure the stop rod 44 in any adjusted position.

A fixed stop 58 is provided to cooperate with the end of the stop rod to thus accurately locate the slide block 16 in its forward position, secured to a projection 60 formed in slide frame 18 adapted to fit within the recess 54.

The slide block 16 functions as the output member of the device, and for this reason is provided with a surface 62 having a series of tapped holes 64 for the purpose of mounting tooling, etc., required for the particular application.

In the vertical mode of use, the slide block assembly 12 is detachably mounted to a vertical mounting surface 66 formed on the mounting frame 68 of the vertical drive assembly 14 mating with a similar surface 70 formed on the slide frame 12 and retained theretogether by a series of cap-screws 72.

The slide block 16 is driven by means of an integral arm portion 74 extending through an elongated opening 76 formed within the region of the mounting surface 70, of the slider frame 16 and a similar opening 78 formed in the mounting frame 68.

In the vertical mode, the arm portion 74 is driven by a motion mechanism 79 which includes a flexible drive element shown as a link chain 80 connected at one end to the arm portion 74, which extends to a rotary drive element, shown as a sprocket 82, passing at least partly around its periphery and then extending in a generally opposite direction to a fixed anchor point 84 to which the other end of the link chain 80 is fixed.

The sprocket 82 is rotatably mounted on a motion mechanism input member comprising a push link 86, having an end member which is forked at its end 90 to accommodate the sprocket 82 and slotted at 92 in order to accommodate a pin 94 fixed to a yoke 96 in turn fastened to the upper portion of the mounting frame 68. The constraint exerted by the pin-and-slot relationship between the push link 86 and the mounting frame 68 prevents angular motion of the push link 86 at any given translational position so as to maintain a given position of the sprocket 82 and the chain 80.

A protective cover 98 is also provided.

The push link 86 is caused to be translated by means of a pivoted connection to a pivoted lever means 100 which is caused to oscillate by means of the radial face of a rotary cam plate 102 engaging a cam follower'l04 carried by the opposite end of the pivoted lever means 100.

The mounting frame 68 is adapted to be mounted on a horizontal surface 106 by means of its lower bracket section 108 including a pair of flanges 110 and 112 at the ends of gussets 114 and 116.

in operation, the rotation of the rotary cam plate 102 causes oscillation of the pivoted lever means 100, which in turn causes translation upwardly (and slight rotation) of the push link 86 togetherwith the sprocket 82 carried thereby.

Since the total relative distance changed between each end of the chain 80 is approximately twice that of a given movement of the rotary drive element away from the chain ends, the chain 80 must thus shorten a distance equal to approximately twice this distance moved by the rotary drive element. This phenomenon occurs because of the doubling back of the chain in the opposite direction, and this motion amplification is at a maximum of doubling of the motion for a perfectly U-shaped relationship and a line of movement directly thereinto and is reduced slightly when the rotary drive element 82 moved at an angle to the U as in FIG. 1.

Thus, the rotary cam, pivoted lever means 100, push link 86, and motion mechanism 79 comprise a drive means whereby the attached slide block 16 is moved by sliding motion on the slide frame 18 a distance slightly less than twice that of the translation of the push link 86 against the bias of the compression springs 36 and 38.

As the oscillation of the pivoted lever means 100 continues, the push link 86 is moved downwardly, allowing the compression springs 36 and 38 (and the force of gravity) to move the slide block 16 and the attached chain 80 downwardly the the return position.

It can be seen that the motion mechanism 79 provides an extremely simple and compact motion amplification device, which is constructed of inexpensive standard commercial items.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 4-6, the slide block assembly 12 is shown in its separate mode of use, and

is mounted directly to a horizontal surface 118 having a clearance slot 120 formed therein through which the arm 74 passes. in this case, the arm is provided with a cam follower 122, which is directly driven by a rotary cam plate 124 by an engagement with its periphery. Thus, the slide block 16 is reciprocated linearly by r0- tation of the rotary cam 124 to provide a horizontal linear motion.

From this description it can be appreciated that by this arrangement a common standardized slide block assembly 12 can be manufactured for both horizontal and vertical motion applications to simplify design and manufacture of systems described infra. Furthermore, both modes involve the use of rotary cam drives, so that both modes can be utilized at a single location with a minimum of parts by stacking the necessary cam plates on a common rotary drive.

it is also noted that motions other than strictly horizontal and vertical can be conveniently obtained merely by modifying the mounting surfaces of the mounting frame 68 to extend at an angle to the vertical, which capability has been difficult to achieve with conventional approaches.

Therefore, what is claimed is:

1. A linear motion mechanism comprising:

a slide frame;

a slide block;

means slidably mounting said slide block on said slide frame for constrained linear motion;

a mounting frame;

means detachably mounting said slide frame on said mounting frame including a pair of mating mounting surfaces on said slide frame and said mounting frame;

drive means including a motion mechanism carried by said mounting frame and drivingly connected to said slide block causing said slide block to undergo said linear motion on said slide frame and further including an arm portion fixed to said slide block and passing through openings in said slide frame and mounting frame within said mating mounting surfaces.

2. The linear motion mechanism of claim 1 wherein said drive means motion mechanism includes a rotary drive element rotatably supported on an input member, a flexible drive element extending onto said rotary drive element and passing around at least a portion of the periphery of said drive element and extending off said rotary drive element in a generally opposite direction, means fixing one end of said flexible drive element to said mounting frame and the other end to said slide block, whereby movement of said input member away from said flexible drive element ends results in amplilied movement of said slide block.

3. The linear motion mechanism of claim 2 wherein said input member comprises a slotted push link and further includes a pin fixed to said mounting frame and passing through said slot in said push link.

4. The linear motion mechanism of claim 3 wherein said drive means further includes a pivoted lever means, means for oscillating said pivoted lever means, and means pivotally connecting one end of said lever and said slotted push link.

5. The linear motion mechanism of claim 4 wherein said drive means further includes resilient bias means resiliently biasing said slide block in a direction opposite to the direction in which said slide block is driven by said connection with said flexible drive member.

6. A motion amplifying arrangement comprising:

a mounting frame;

an input member;

means constraining said input member including a pin-and-slot driv-ing connection between said input member and said mounting frame;

means for translating and rotating said input member including a pivoted lever means drivingly connected to said input member;

a rotary drive element rotationally supported on said input member;

a flexible drive element extending onto said rotary drive element passing around at least a portion of said rotary drive element and extending off said rotary drive element in a generally opposite direction;

means fixing one end of said flexible drive element to be relatively stationary with respect to said input member;

an output member;

means connecting the other end of said flexible drive element to said output member, whereby said translation of said input member is transmitted to said output member in an amplified form.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 further including means constraining said output member to move linearly.

8. The arrangement of claim 7 further including means biasing said output member in an opposite direction to that in which it is driven by said flexible drive element.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein said flexible drive element is a chain and wherein said rotary drive element is a sprocket. 

1. A linear motion mechanism comprising: a slide frame; a slide block; means slidably mounting said slide block on said slide frame for constrained linear motion; a mounting frame; means detachably mounting said slide frame on said mounting frame including a pair of mating mounting surfaces on said slide frame and said mounting frame; drive means including a motion mechanism carried by said mounting frame and drivingly connected to said slide block causing said slide block to undergo said linear motion on said slide frame and further including an arm portion fixed to said slide block and passing through openings in said slide frame and mounting frame within said mating mounting surfaces.
 2. The linear motion mechanism of claim 1 wherein said drive means motion mechanism includes a rotary drive element rotatably supported on an input member, a flexible drive element extending onto said rotary drive element and passing around at least a portion of the periphery of said drive element and extending off said rotary drive element in a generally opposite direction, means fixing one end of said flexible drive element to said mounting frame and the other end to said slide block, whereby movement of said input member away from said flexible drive element ends results in amplified movement of said slide block.
 3. The linear motion mechanism of claim 2 wherein said input member comprises a slotted push link and further includes a pin fixed to said mounting frame and passing through said slot in said push link.
 4. The linear motion mechanism of claim 3 wherein said drive means further includes a pivoted lever means, means for oscillating said pivoted lever means, and means pivotally connecting one end of said lever and said slotted push link.
 5. The linear motion mechanism of claim 4 wherein said drive means further includes resilient bias means resiliently biasing said slide block in a direction opposite to the direction in which said slide block is driven by said connection with said flexible drive member.
 6. A motion amplifying arrangement comprising: a mounting frame; an input member; means constraining said input member including a pin-and-slot driving connection between said input member and said mounting frame; means for translating and rotating said input member including a pivoted lever means drivingly connected to said input member; a rotary drive element rotationally supported on said input member; a flexible drive element extending onto said rotary drive element passing around at least a portion of said rotary drive element and extending off said rotary drive element in a generally opposite direction; means fixing one end of said flexible drive element to be relatively stationary with respect to said input member; an output member; means connecting the other end of said flexible drive element to said output member, whereby said translation of said input member is transmitted to said output member in an amplified form.
 7. The arrangement of claim 6 further including means constraining said output member to move linearly.
 8. The arrangement of claim 7 further including means biasing said output member in an opposite direction to that in which it is driven by said flexible drive element.
 9. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein said flexible drive element is a chain and wherein said rotary drive element is a sprocket. 